Registering Children in School

If the family has come through Catholic Charities or KRM, it is likely that a case worker has already contacted JCPS ESL Intake Office to set up an appointment for registration.

To enroll new families who speak limit English or no English:

• Contact the JCPS Intake Center for the family - (502) 485-3623

• Indicate to the person on the phone that you will need an interpreter and for which language.

  • • JCPS ESL has interpreters in the office at all times. For languages such as Pashto or Dari, the ESL Languages Services Department will arrange for an interpreter. They usually use Catholic Charities interpreters or they have a "language line" interpreter.

• The appointment will be located at Hazelwood Elementary School, 1325 Bluegrass Avenue, Louisville, KY 40215

• Items to bring to the appointment:

  • Names and birthdates of children to be enrolled

  • Proof of address (utility bill or apartment lease)

  • Identity papers for the family (birth cirtificates if they have them)

  • Any immunization records

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Almost all new arrivals will be placed in a Newcomer Academy until their English level has improved

• When their English level has improved, they will be transferred to an ESL school in their cluster

• There are many schools that offer ESL support in JCPS. Most have pull-out sessions or occasional support depending on need.

  • • For example, in middle school, an ESL student will have 1 or 2 hours of ESL English class a day. These classes have BIA's (Bilingual Instructional Assistants) but not all languages are supported. For example, they may have one BIA for Spanish, Arabic, and Swahili and the BIA moves around classes as needed. Some languages have no BIA's at all.

• ESL should also help with the setup for bus transportation, free school breakfast, and lunch. If they don't have supplies there on the first day at school, someone should contact the Family Resource Center (Youth Services center in high schools) to get free supplies, backpacks, and uniforms (if the school uses uniforms).

• The school nearest the refugee/immigrant's home will probably NOT be the school their children will attend. The Newcomer Center is usually the first assignment for new students. Even after exiting Newcomer Academy, elementary students will be placed in a school within their "cluster" and that school may not be near their home.